Fabric folder for sewing machines



June 21, 1955 I cu 2,711,141

FABRIC FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 6, 1953 I E NTOF\ United States PatentTO This invention relates to improvementsin fabric folders for sewing machines, and more particularly to a device which may be readily attached to the ordinary type of domestic sewing machine, to enable the operator to form and stitch knife plaits, folds, gathers, and the like of the desired width- The device is simple to operate and manufacture and produces folded ornamentation of pleasing uniformity.

An object of the invention is to provide a device'comprising two members, longitudinally adjustable with respect to each other, one carrying means with which a portion of a fabric to be plaited may be engaged, and the other carrying indicating means for use as a guide in stitching. These members, preferably in the form of slide bars are mounted in a channel member adapted to hold them in adjusted position. A fabric adjusting member, such as a manually operated arm, for folding the fabric into a plait of the desired width, is used by the operator, all as more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. I is a side elevation of the slide bar carrying the fabric engaging member;

Fig. II is a side elevation of the slide bar carrying the indicating member; i

Fig. III is a side elevation of the arm for folding the fabric to be pleated or the like;

Fig. IV is a perspective view of the channel member in which the slide bars are adjustably mounted;

Fig. V is a perspective view showing a strip of fabric to be plaited, held by the fabric engaging member; and

Fig. VI is a perspective view showing a strip of fabric disengaged from the position of Fig. V and moved by the arm into position for stitching.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a slide bar having near one end, means for holding a strip of fabric to be plaited. A preferred embodiment is a pointed member such as a tapering projection or pin 2, having a point sharp enough to pierce fabric pressed against the point. Pin 2 is preferably formed integrally with a cutaway and bent over end 3 of slide bar 1. Slide bar 4 is provided, preferably near the end, with an indicatEfS, such as the lateral projection shown. Arm 6 is bent upwardly at an intermediate area 7. Channel member 8, which is the carrier for bars 1 and 4, has an opening 9 for insertion of a screw, or other holding means, to clamp slide bars 1 and 4 in the desired adjusted position. Base 10 of channel member 8 is extended and provided with a slot 11 in which a screw 12 or other holding means may be inserted to fasten the device to the bed plate of the sewing machine, of which only needle 13 and presser foot 14, each of any suitable kind, are shown. Sewing machine bed plates contain a screw hole in which screw 12 may be inserted. Base-10 operates as a stop for the movement of arm 6 when the arm is moved toward the presser foot to form a plait.

A strip of fabric to be plaited is designated 15. A portion of the fabric, marked 16, is engaged with pin 2, as

' tothebase or stop 10. While the fabric is held in this po-I 2 shown ,in Fig. V. .The fabric is formed into a fold 17, as shown in Fig. VI, by the operation now to be described.

Slide bar. 1 is so positioned that pin 2 is at the desired distance from base 10 of channel member 8, depending on the desired width of the plait to be made. Slide bar 4 is sopositioned that indicator 5 is at the proper distance from pin 2, to inform the operator how far to stitch for the desired plait, if spaced plaits are being made. Slide bars 1 and 4 are fastened against relativemovement by inserting a screw in opening 9 to press against the slide bars,

or by equivalent means. Fabric 15 to be plaited is then placed beneath presser foot 14, paralleling slide bars 1 and 4, as shown in Fig. V.

Theportion 16 of the fabric is then placed over pin 2 and the fabric is held thereby at right angles to slide bars land 4, with the thumb and index finger. .The operator holds thecd'ge of the plait and lifts it from pin 2. Fig. VI shows the position of the fabric when the formed plait is removed from pin 2 and is ready to bestitched. With the other hand, the operator slides arm 6 under slide bars 1 and 4 to. form a third thickness of fabric, extending back sition,.the6perator withdraws arm 6-and stitches until the endzofthe linev of stitches (that is, the point at which the plait terminates) is opposite stop 10, for abutting plaits, or opposite indicator 5, for plaits which have spaces between them. 7

If it is desired to form a plait in the direction opposite to that shown in the drawing, that is, with the fold of the plait adjacent the presser foot instead of pointing away from it, the procedure is as follows: The fabric is placed at right angles to slide bars 1 and 4. It is then folded up ward and held with the thumb and index finger to retain the fold in shape while arm 6 is moved, underneath slide bars 1 and 4, over the plait to base or stop 10. To make the plait in the directionof the presser foot arm 6 moves.

toward the presser foot while the arm is between the top layer of fabric in the fold and the intermediate layer,

rather than between the intermediate layer and the bottom layer, as shown in the drawing. It will be obvious that the procedure just described is merely the reverse of that used when the plait is directed away from the presser foot. Various other methods of operation will be clear to those skilled in sewing.

Indicator 5 is not required when the plaits are to be adjacent each other, but only when there are to be spaces between them. In the latter case, indication of where to stop stitching is of very considerable help. It will be understood that the essential functions of the device are carried out by the arm 6, bar 1, and fabric-holding means 2.

Sewingmachines are at present provided with attach ments for making tucks and it is possible to use these attachments to make plaits, but only by complicated and tiresome handling of the fabric. Shirring'at'tachments can be operated to make plaits of a limited character. By means of the present invention, the operation is greatly facilitated. Folding ornamentation of fabrics, of widely difierent kinds, can be produced with ease and accuracy.

In some cases it is advantageous to make the device of the present invention as a part of the presser foot, or it may be attached thereto in any suitable way. The presser foot may be of general adaptability to various types of sewing machines or it may have special characteristics fitting it for one type of machine only. Various other changes. and alternative arrangements may be'made within the O scope of the appended claims.

on said carrier, an elongated bar of substantially greater length than said channel member mounted in said channel member for longitudinal adjustment substantially parallel to the line of stitching to be formed-by said mechanism, said bar having its long axis parallel to said channel member and having an upwardly extending projection for engagement with a portion of'the fabric to b'e plaited and for holding the same in substantiall} nons'lid'able relation to said mechanism, means for holding said bar in fixed position with respect; said mechanism, a stop adapted to be arranged between said mechanism and'said upwardly extending projection, and an arm moving below said upwardly extending projection "and" in juxtaposition to said bar, said stop serving to limit motion of said arm.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in Whichsaid'elongated bar carries, adjacent one end, a pointed projection constituting fabric-holding means.- s

' '3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which an'indicator member is mounted in slidingrelation With respcct to said elongated bar. 7

4. A plaiter for use with the sewing mechanism of a sewing machine, comprising a channel member adapted to be secured adjacent the sewing mechanism, a'slide'b'ar of substantially greater length than said channel member and mounted in said channel member for'longitudinal afijustment therein substantially parallel to the'line of s'titc'hr.

ing to be iormed by the sewing mechanism, said bar having its long axis parallel to said channel member, means. for securing said slide bar in adjusted position in said channel member, upward extending fabric-holding means.

5 mounted on said slide bar and adapted to be engaged with a portion of the fabric to be plaited and to hold said portion in substantially non-slidable relation to the sewing mechanism, and means movable Lin juxtaposition to said slide bar ier folding said fabric, while it is held by said 10 fabric-holding means, said movable means for foldingv fabric moving below said upwardly extending fabric-holding means.

5; 5. Apparatus according to claim '4, in which a stop is arranged between said sewing mechanism and said up- 15 Wardly extending fabric-holding means. 7

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which a second slide bar is adjustably mounted in the channel member, 2 I said second slide bar carrying an indicator to denote a predetermined distance from fabric-holding means. 

